TimeOut

We started in a parking lot that was well signed (you'll see what I mean later).



Bike path shared with hikers for a few hundred yards (downhill for us)



This got a laugh from us. The remaining water is several miles away. The sign must have been put up decades ago.



Here's how the lake looked 10-12 years ago! I can almost imagine launching my kayak near that sign.



It was extremely dry this morning! Good thing we brought some water along with us.



This trail is recommended from October May, and best avoided from June-September. Let's see, it's August 30. We blew it.



It would be better to have come by 6:30 but we have an appointment nearby in a couple hours, so here we are. No wonder we haven't seen ANYONE on the trail today.



My wife is wearing my first Citizen Eco-Drive.



The "lake" is very green today, and just stepping a few feet closer off the trail drops the temperature 5-10 degrees.



This is the view "up river" to the east.



We haven't seen any life on the trail and are setting our expectations for a boring hike. I did see this large burrow opening though.



This was right above the large burrow. When something gets dragged in, and flies come to the carcass, the spider is ready to care for the flies...





Finally! Signs of life! Our conversation flushed a bird from the bushes, and it flew down the path.



Then stopped and waited for us to get a photo.



We soon got a very nice pose from a lizard, near the edge of the trail (I saw him).



Then another up on the hill (she spotted this one).



and she saw this squirrel too, climbing up a rock out past the lizard -- well camouflaged, aren't they?

The trail turned west and south, and a nice ocean breeze cooled our feverish brows. 

The first green and bursting-with-life plants with flowers were located here:



Of course there is always the native buckwheat, but even when it's flowering it looks burnt and brown. But this plant seemed to be shimmering, somehow. Do you see what I mean?



Stop. Look again, more closely. I did, and switched to Macro setting on the camera.



There were literally dozens of these tiny beautiful butterflies, that could safely land on your watch crystal even if you had an old Patek on today. Maybe even your cufflink watch.



Life was becoming more apparent with the feeling of ocean breezes coming up the river valley. I noticed a giant spiderweb,



and the hideous banana spider in the center, waiting. It was large enough to fill your palm.



Goodbye river / lake, we are climbing and have turned south and east, slowly making a circle back towards our car.

Whew, no wonder I am hot and out of breath, we have been climbing up a slope and are now 400 ft higher than the lowest point. The car is over (way over) by those palm trees.

This sign warns us to travel in pairs in this area, for safety from the elements or accidents, and predators of human or animal origin. Our friends with Search & Rescue bring out plenty of lost / injured hikers and have found more deceased than they care to talk about.

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